Friday, July 28, 2017

On
Sunday, a grass fire off Interstate 5 and milepost 55 in Grants Pass was
quickly knocked down at a half-acre; however, every firefighter on the ground
and in the air faced an additional risk when a hobby drone was spotted in the
sky.

The powerline-related fire was
called in at roughly 4:10 p.m. Sunday, July 23rd. Within minutes, five
engines, one water tender and one hand crew from the Oregon Department of
Forestry Southwest Oregon District, one engine and one water tender from Rural
Metro Fire Josephine County and two engines from Grants Pass Fire arrived on
scene and began containing the fire. An ODF Southwest Oregon District, Type 2 helicopter,
was dispatched shortly after to assist in the initial attack. Upon arrival, the
helicopter was requested to perform a reconnaissance mission along the I-5
corridor in order to guarantee that the fire did not spot or spread to areas
that firefighters on the ground could not see. With the water bucket deployed
and already in tow, the helicopter headed south along I-5 searching for
additional fire starts. The pilot had every intention of returning to the fire
after the scouting mission; however, an ODF engine crewman spotted a drone
heading toward the active fire scene just moments after the helicopter changed
direction. The pilot was immediately contacted, left the area to create distance
between himself and the drone, then landed safely at our Grants Pass
headquarters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be investigating the
incident moving forward. ODF Southwest Oregon District would like to encourage
anyone who sees a drone over an active fire incident to call 9-1-1.

“It jeopardizes the safety of our pilots,
firefighters and the public. We are asking that people help spread this message
so a drone interfering with firefighting operations does not happen again,”
said ODF Southwest District Forester, Dave Larson.

As unmanned aircraft system (UAS) technology has
become increasingly popular, so have run-ins between hobby drones and wildland
firefighting agencies, like the Oregon Department of Forestry, that consider it
a hindrance. This is the first time aerial operations have been grounded by a
drone in the Southwest Oregon District. Thankfully, the pilot, firefighters and
the public below were not harmed by the drone intrusion. Many people often
forget that a single hobby drone is enough to take down firefighting aircraft.

When drones
interfere with firefighting efforts, a wildfire has the potential to grow
larger and cause more damage. Every second counts. Not to mention, every time
an aircraft is grounded due to drone interference, thousands of dollars are
wasted on take-off and landing alone. It is important to note that just because
a helicopter is not visible in the sky, or flames are no longer noticeable on
the ground, does not mean that fire scene is no longer ‘active.’ Aircraft are
often orbiting a wildfire long after flames are knocked down. In addition,
resources on the ground and in the air often revisit fire scenes in order to
ensure there is no heat radiating from the ground that could potentially spark
a new fire. As long as there are boots on the ground, the fire scene remains
active.

Recreational drone use on a wildfire is prohibited
by the FAA due to amount of risk in regards to human life. According to the
FAA, “drone operators who interfere with wildfire suppression efforts are
subject to civil penalties of up to $27,500 and possible criminal prosecution.”
For further information about drone regulations, visit: www.knowbeforeyoufly.org.

Remember, if you fly, we can’t.

Please join ODF Southwest Oregon District in sharing
our message on Facebook
and YouTube. Together,
we can keep everyone in the air and on the ground safe allowing us to attack
and suppress wildfires faster than if we worked alone.

The fire danger level on lands protected by the
Oregon Department of Forestry in Jackson and Josephine counties rises to
“extreme” (red) at 12:01 a.m. Monday, July 31. This affects 1.8 million acres
of state, private, county and Bureau of Land Management lands within ODF’s
Southwest Oregon District.

The primary difference between current fire
prevention restrictions and those beginning Monday affects the public use of
power-driven equipment, such as chain saws and mowers, to name a few. The use
of power-driven equipment, grinding, cutting of metal, and other spark-emitting
equipment, such as wood splitters and generators, will be prohibited.

Here are the details of the adjusted fire prevention
regulations taking effect on July 31:

·The use of power saws is prohibited.

·The cutting, grinding and welding of metal is prohibited.

·The mowing of dry or dead grass is prohibited.

·The operation of any other spark-emitting internal combustion engine not
specifically mentioned above is prohibited.

The following fire prevention regulations are
currently in effect and will remain in effect until the fire danger level drops
significantly:

·Smoking is prohibited while traveling, except in vehicles on improved roads,
in boats on the water, and designated locations.

·Motor vehicles, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, may only
be used on improved roads free of flammable vegetation, except when used for
the commercial culture and harvest of agricultural crops.

·Fireworks are prohibited.

·Any electric fence controller in use shall be
listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory or be certified by the
Department of Consumer and Business Services; and operated in compliance with
the manufacturer’s instructions.

·The use of exploding targets is prohibited.

·The use of tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in
its base is prohibited.

·Possession of the following firefighting equipment is required while
traveling, except on state highways, county roads and driveways: one shovel and
one gallon of water or one 2.5 pound or larger fire extinguisher. All-terrain
vehicles and motorcycles must be equipped with one 2.5 pound or larger fire
extinguisher.